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Diabetes Quick Fix: Mustard Crusted Snapper with Tomato and Mint Barley
A tangy mustard coating gives this baked fish a great flavor and seals in the juices. I use two types of mustard in this recipe, Dijon and a grainy mustard. This is a very simple recipe and, once it is in the oven, you can quickly make the barley.
Barley is used most often in stews and soups, but it is very good boiled and served as an ...Read more

On Nutrition: What's the deal with seed oils?
I’m on vacation. So I have no idea why I decided to write on such a controversial topic this week. I would guess, though, that I’m not the only one scratching my head over the current banter against seed oils.
As you might guess, seed oils are liquid fats that come from plant seeds. The most notable are derived from canola, corn, cottonseed...Read more
Wildfire Smoke Increases Dementia Risk
Significant increases in the amount of fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke (often referred to as PM2.5) strongly correlates to an increased risk of developing dementia. The longer and more frequent the exposure, the greater the risk.
Researchers analyzed the health records of 1.2 million members aged 60 and older of Kaiser Permanente ...Read more

On Nutrition: Supplement questions
My buddy Al sent this response to a recent column on vitamin C:
“You wrote, ‘unlike most animals, our human bodies do not have the ability to manufacture vitamin C.’ Well, I am a party animal!! Do I have the ability to make a little of my own?
“Seriously now, I have 1,000 mg packets (of vitamin C) and it reads ‘for daily support.’ ...Read more
Running Out of Breath
Researchers analyzed 16 years of race results from nine major marathons across the United States and found that races run on days with greater air pollution were associated with slower average finish times.
The concentration of an air pollutant is measured in micrograms per cubic meter of air. Analyzing all finish times, the researchers found...Read more

Diabetes Quick Fix: Lasagna Soup with Spinach Salad
Everyone loves lasagna. This is a new and popular lasagna variation that is served in bowls as a thick soup. The soup is served with a dollop of yogurt.
Orange zest adds an intriguing, sweet flavor to the soup. It is made by scraping or cutting the outer skin of an unwaxed orange. Be sure not to include the white pith just under the skin.
...Read more

On Nutrition: Probiotics, technically
We’re never too old to learn. That’s why I appreciated the kind letter from Professor Emeritus Bob Hutkins from the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska.
“Thank you for your informative columns that I read regularly in the Lincoln Journal Star. The probiotics quiz was spot on except for the question ...Read more
Think Before You Drink
Four signs it's time to replace your reusable water bottle:
1. Visible wear and tear, especially on the inside.
2. Water starts tasting or smelling suspicious, a sign that either chemicals may be leaching into the water from the bottle or bacteria is growing within.
3. Discoloration on the inside, such as oxidation/corrosion in metal ...Read more

On Nutrition: A little something sweet
We’ve just arrived for our yearly visit to the great state of Texas. After three days of travel, our horses and dogs are happy to be here too.
Before we left home, I packed our live-in trailer with as many groceries as would fit into our small refrigerator and limited cabinet space. No need for anything that requires an oven. Don’t have one...Read more
High Resolution
These 20 cities, according to WalletHub, a personal finance company, rank tops in keeping New Year's resolutions or, conversely, forgetting they made resolutions at all. While individuals vary, research suggests nearly one-quarter of people quit their resolution(s) by the end of the first week, and almost half by the end of January.
Rankings ...Read more

Diabetes Quick Fix: Hot and Spicy Stir-fry Shrimp and Sesame Noodles with Snow Peas
Stir-fry some shrimp with hot pepper sauce, garlic, and ginger for a succulent, quick dinner.
Buy bag of frozen shrimp, wild caught, and keep on hand. Look for sales and keep some on hand for quick meals. It saves time and money running to the store.
Sesame noodles with snow peas complete the meal. Fresh snow peas add a crisp texture to the ...Read more

On Nutrition: Understanding vitamin C
One regret I have is not being able to meet Linus Pauling, the biochemist best known in nutrition circles for his views on vitamin C. In the last years of his life, he resided just down the road from us. He may not have wanted a visit from a stranger, but I wish I had at least tried.
If the name doesn’t ring a bell, Pauling was a Nobel Prize ...Read more
Don't 'Meat' Me in LA
The financial services website and app WalletHub recently listed the most vegan- and vegetarian-friendly places to live in the United States, based on criteria like affordability, diversity, accessibility and quality. Some of the criteria were further broken down into metrics like farmers markets per capita.
Based on a 100-point scale, here ...Read more

On Nutrition: Raw or cooked?
When I was a kid, I would watch my mom in the kitchen. Every once in a while as she cut up potatoes, she’d pop a raw piece in her mouth. She’d do the same with raw meat — to test the seasoning, I suppose — before placing a meatloaf in the oven.
Don’t do that, say food safety experts. To my knowledge, mom never got sick from these ...Read more
Fart Walks
There's no polite way to discuss this, but so blow the winds of change.
The term "fart walks" is trending right now, though in reality the phenomenon has existed for as long as there has been a human gastrointestinal tract. The term refers to the physiological consequences of exercise, especially after eating.
Flatulence involves passing ...Read more

On Nutrition: Treatments for low thyroid
Several years ago, a patient asked me what she could eat to treat hypothyroidism — a medical condition characterized by abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones.
She was correct to be concerned. The small thyroid gland housed in the front of our necks manufactures hormones that control important bodily functions including breathing, heart ...Read more
The Difference Is Zero
Roughly one-fifth of American adults consume diet sodas on a given day. The market is huge -- more than $5 billion globally -- with dozens of choices, including whether to swig a "diet" or "zero-sugar" beverage.
So what's the difference since neither actually contains sugar?
Diet drinks replace sugar with artificial sweeteners, most often ...Read more

On Nutrition: Questions from readers
Along with starting a few resolutions for the new year, I checked my mailbag. Joyce M. writes, “I enjoyed your column on cranberries in the Dallas Morning News. Several of the health benefits were new to me, but I was educated on cranberry production by elderly Wisconsin relatives who worked on the farms.
“For years I have bought extra ...Read more
Reading as Therapy, Physical and Psychological
A good book (and this particular news feature) can quite literally change the way you think and feel. There's actual scientific evidence -- at least for the part about reading a good book. We're happily assuming the latter.
Researchers have found that reading can rewire neural pathways, increase brain connectivity and, in essence, make you ...Read more
Homeopathy for Melanoma Support: Complementary Approaches for Holistic Care
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can be aggressive and potentially life-threatening if not detected and treated early. While conventional medical treatments are the primary approach for managing melanoma, some individuals may seek additional support from complementary therapies such as homeopathy. Homeopathy is a holistic system of ...Read more
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